Mercury boiler



Feb. 19, 1935. 5,13, EB -r5 1,991,798

Figj MERCURY BOILER Filed Oct. 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR W 3. m M 1m ATTORNEY Feb. 19,- 193 5. G. D, EBBETS 1,991,798

MERCURY BOILER Filed Oct. 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 19, 1935 I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MERCURY BOILER Application October 2, 1928, Serial No. 309,768 25 Claims. (01. 122 -312) This invention relates to a 'mercury boiler that comprises a horizontal cylindrical drum or header, inside of which is a displacer confining the mercury to the space between, a dividing member in this space, and depending closed end tubes connected to the drum and having internal smaller tubes extending from the dividing member to near the closed bottom ends.

The invention will be understood from the description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section through an illustrative embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a section through the drum; Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2 showing a modification; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through an illustrative embodiment of the drum partly broken away; Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 2 showing another modification; and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the same partly broken away.

In the drawings reference character 1 indicates a furnace that may be fired in any convenient manner. The drum 2 of the mercury boiler is located above the furnace and extends in a horizontal direction. The tubes 3 extending downwardly from the drum 2 into the furnace are contacted by the hot products of combustion from the furnace and may receive some radiant heat. Mercury vapor .ofi-take tubes 4 extend from the upper side of the drum 2 to a main vapor drum 5,-from which the mercury vapors can be taken off to the place of use. Several of the drums 2 may be used in connection with a single main vapor drum 5, and the tubes 4 are arranged to drain liquid back to the drums 2.

A displacero (Fig. 2) is provided inside of the drum 2 so that the volume of mercury in drum 2 is but a small part of the volume of the drum. A dividing member 7 is provided in the space between the drum 2 and the displacer 6 so as to form two mercury spaces, one between displacer 6 and dividing member 7 and the other between dividing member 7 and drum 2. There is no communication between these two spaces below the normal liquid level, but there is above it, through the holes 8. These spaces increase in size from the bottom towards the top so that there is proportionately less volume of liquid than of vapor or vapor and liquid spaces. The displacer 6 and dividing member '7 are preferably made cylindrical although the invention is not restricted to this shape, and while the displacer is shown hollow the invention includes solid displacers.

A feed inlet 9 for mercury extends through the wall of the drum 2 and also through the dividing member 7 delivering into the space between displacer 6 and dividing member '7. The drum 2 is thickened at the bottom as illustrated in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, and is pro- 5 vided with openings 10 therethrough, into which openings the tubes 3 are expanded, welded or otherwise secured by a tight joint. The tubes 3 are provided with displacers 11 so as to leave narrow annular spaces next to the tubes, and 10 small longitudinal central holes or tubes 12.. Nipples 13 extend from the holes 12 in the tube displacers 11 through the dividing member 7, and are sufiiciently flexible to allow some movement between the parts due to expansion and contraction.

The operation is as follows: 7

Mercury that is introduced through the inlet 9 passes into the narrow space between the dividing member '7 and the drum displacer 6 and then passes through the nipples 13 and holes 12 in the tube displacers 11, into the tubes 3 to the lower closed ends. The heat from the furnace causes the mercury to be vaporized in the nar row outside annular spaces in the tubes 3, the mercury vapor and entrained mercury passing upwardly at high velocity into the drum 2 between it and the dividing member '7 below the normal liquid level. The liquid mercury separates from the vapor and passes through the openings 8 in the dividing member '7 above the, liquid level into the space between the drum displacer 6 and dividing member 7. The mercury vapors pass upwardly in the drum 2 and next to it and thence pass out through the mercury vapor tubes 4. The separated liquid returns to the tubes through the flexible nipples and holes in tube displacers. By providing a narrow space between the displacer 6 and the drum 2, it is pos sible to operate with a very small quantity of mercury in the drum and still keep the tubes 3 sufficiently supplied with mercury to eliminate the danger of burning out these tubes. The displacers 11 in the tubes 3 cooperate by reducing the volume of mercury to a minimum consistent with free flow through the holes 12 in the tube displacers 11. while insuring properly high velocity of vapor and liquid next to the heated tubes to abstract heat from them at a rate that avoids tube metal overheating. The drum mercury space dividing member and nipple connections to the tube displacer holes, keep the rising streams of vapor and liquid separate from the descending streams of liquid below the liquid level, while leaving tree communication above this level where separation takes place The circulation is made non-reversible by continuing the dividing member 7 without holes below the liquid level and keeping all communica-' tion between the two sides high enough so that separated liquid that has passed from one side to the other cannot return except by. passing through. the tubes. The drum space dividing member 7 which guides the circulation in the drum is independent of the drum displacer.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 reierencecharacter 2 indicates a cylindrical drum with thick walls having the end reduced as shown at 15. A cylindrical displacer drum 16, whose walls may be thinner than the walls oi the drum I 2, is placed inside of the drum 2, and is sufllciently.

small to provide an annular space between the two drums. The joint between the ends of the drums is welded, as shown at 1'7, to make the same ers 20 therein of a size sufilcient to provide anof the drum 2. The cores or displacers20-are=- provided with central longitudinal openings 21 that are connected by means of the nipples or ferrules 22 to the space between the plate 18 and drum 16.

, In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and '6, a third cylinder 24 is located in the space between the drums 2 and 16 in place of the plate 18. The end of the cylinder 24 terminates with the ends of the drums 2 and 16 and the joints are weld ed as indicated at 17 to prevent leakage. A feed inlet 25 is. shown in this modification extending through the drum 2 and also the cylinder 24 into the space between the cylinders 16 and 24. The cylinder '24 may be provided with openings 26 near the top as well as baiiles 27 on the outside. The drum 2 may be provided with bailies 28 on the inside. The baifles 2'7 and 28 aid in separating the liquid from the vapor. In this modification the tubes 3 enter the drum 2 radially and the operation is similar to that described above.

The operation of the'modiflcation shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is as follows:

Mercury enters the openings or holes 21 in the tubes 3 through the nipples or ferrules 22 and descends to the lower closed ends of these tubes. The heat from the furnace causes vaporization of the mercury in the annular spaces between the cores 20 and tubes 3. The vapors and entrained mercury passes upward between the inside of the drum 2 and the plate 18. The vapors collect in the upper portion of the space and may be withdrawn from the pipes 4 leading away from this space and the liquid that is separated from the vapors passes to the 'other'side of the plate 18 and again enters the tubes 3 to be evaporated.

I claim: I

1. In a mercury boiler, a drum, a displacer in said drum and spaced therefrom, a separator in the space between the drum and displacer, the

, ends of said drum displacer and separator being vapor generating tubes with closed outer ends, an

inner cylinder of uniform cross section throughout its length, the end of said drum being reduced and the joint between said drum and cylinder beinder being welded, and tubes extending into the space between said drum and cylinder.

4. A mercury, boiler having two cylindrical shells eccentrically related one within the other and united at their ends and forming between them an annular vapor and liquid chamber which increases in size from its bottom to its top.

' 5. A liquid and vapor separator for boilers consisting of inner and outer eccentrically related telescoped tubular shells united at their ends by circumierential welds and forming a tapered an- -nular space for vapor and liquid.

6. A tubular liquid and vapor separator con sisting-oi telescoped tubular cylindrical shells eccentrically related and united at their ends to form an annular space for liquid and vapor.

7. In a mercury boiler, a tubular drum shell, a tubular displacer eccentrically positioned in said drum and spaced therefrom, tubes connectedto said drum shell having displacers with openings therethrough, and connections from the space between the drum shell and its displacer to said openings.

8. In a mercury boiler, a drum, a tubular displacer positioned eccentrically in said drum and spaced therefrom, a separator in the space between the drum and displacer, tubes connected to said drum having displacers with openings therethrough and connections from the space between the drum and its displacer to said openings.

9. In a mercury boiler, a drum, .a tubular displacer eceentrically positioned in said drum and spaced therefrom to provide an annular liquid and vapor space, a curved separator in the space between the drum and displacer, tubes connected to said drum having displacers with openings therethrough, and connections from the space on one side of said first named displacer to said openings.

10. In a mercury boiler, a tubular drum shell, a tubular displacer in said drum and spaced therefrom, a separator in the space between the drum and displacer, the ends of'said drum shell and displacer being welded together to form an annular liquid and vapor-space.

11. In a mercury boiler, a horizontal and openended cylindrical drum shell, a tubular displacer in said drum and spaced eccentrically therefrom, tubes connected to the drum having displacers with openings therethrough, said tubes entering said drum radially and means sealing the ends of the space between the drum and displacer.

12. In a mercury boiler, a horizontal openended cylindrical drum having tubes with closed lower ends attached to the lower'side of said drum, a member in said drum shaped and located to form a narrow and tapered passage between it and said drum, and a separator in said passage and terminating short of the ends of the drum and means sealing the ends oi. the space nections from one side of said separator to the central portion of said tubes.

14. In a mercury boiler, a drum, vapor gener-' ating tubes connected to the lower side of said drum, a tubular displacer eccentrically positioned in said drum, and means to cause vapor and mercury that rise in said tubes to pass'upwardly in a curved path near the inside walls of said drum and liquid mercury to pass downwardly near the surface of said displacer.

15. In a mercury boiler, a drum, vapor generating tubes connected to the lower side of said drum, a displacer eccentrically positioned in said drum, and means to cause vapor and mercury that rises in said tubes to pass upwardly near the inside walls of said drum and liquid mercury to pass downwardly near the surface of said displacer, said means comprising members located between said drum and displacer. v

16. In a mercury boiler, a cylindrical drum shell, an inner cylinder, the end of said drum shell being reduced and the joint between said drum shell and cylinder beingwelded, and tubes extending into the space between said drum shell and cylinder, the cylinder being eccentrically related to the shell.

17. A liquid collector for fluid heat exchange apparatus comprising, in combination, a tubular outer shell, a second tubular shell eccentrically telescoped within the outer shell, vapor generating tubes connected to the outer shell and extending outwardly therefrom, and a curved separator spaced from the inner shell and pro.- viding thereby a liquid space which increases in cross section from the bottom to the top.

- 18. Fluid heat exchange apparatus having a plurality of eccentrically related metallic tubular shells united at their ends and forming between them an annular vapor and liquid chamber which increases in size from its bottom to its top.

19. A liquid and vapor separator for fluid heat exchange apparatus consisting of inner and outer eccentrically related telescoped tubular shells united at their ends by circumferential welds and liquid.

20. A tubular liquid and vapor separator for mercury boilers consisting of telescoped tubular cylindrical shells eccentrically related and having offset ends united to form an annular space for liquid and vapor.

21. A vapor and liquid separator for fluid heat exchange apparatus comprising, in combination, a tubular outer shell, a second tubular shell eccentrically telescoped within the outer shell and having its ends united therewith to provide an annular vapor and liquid chamber, vapor generating tubes connected to the outer shell and extending outwardly therefrom, and a curved separator spaced-from the inner shell and providing a liquid space which increases in cross section from the bottomto the top.

22. A vapor and liquid separator for fluid heat exchange apparatus comprising, in combination, a tubular outer shell, a second tubular shell eccentrically telescoped within the outer shell and having radially outwardly offset end portions united with the ends of the outer shell, vapor generating tubes connected to the outer shell and extending outwardly therefrom, and a curved separator spaced from the inner shell and providing a liquid space which increases in cross section from the bottom to the top.

23. A vapor and liquid separator having two eccentrical'ly related tubular shells welded together at their ends and forming between them an annular vapor and liquid chamber which increases in size from its bottom to its top.

24. A liquid and vapor separator for fluid heat exchange apparatus consisting of inner and outer eccentrically related telescoped tubular shells united at their ends by circumferential welds and forming a tapered annular space for vapor and liquid, the inner shell having an end portion greater in wall thickness than its main portion.

25. A tubular liquid and vapor separator consisting of telescoped tubular cylindrical Shells eccentrically related and united at their ends to form an annular liquid space which increases in size from the bottom to the top. 

